Automatic bag shaping and bag top forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

An automatic bag shaping and bag top forming machine for receiving a filled bag and having horizontally elongated bottom and side endless conveyors with one side conveyor and bottom conveyor extending a substantial distance rearwardly of the other side conveyor, a side conveyor member mounted adjacent the shorter side conveyor for movement between an extended position extending substantially the same distance rearwardly as the longer side conveyor and a retracted position a substantial distance forwardly of the extended position, a bag top forming assembly mounted for vertical and horizontal movement to shape the bag top to form gussets as the bag is being conveyed by the conveyors, a bag top holding assembly for retaining the bag top in a shaped condition as the bag top forming assembly is moved vertically upwardly from the bag top and the bag is being conveyed by the above conveyors to conveyors for the bag top that retains the bag top in a shaped condition as the bag is moved adjacent the sewing machine, and machines for picking up an empty bag and moving the bag above the bottom conveyor when the conveyor member is in its retracted position and filling and depositing the picked up bag on the bottom conveyor when the side conveyor member is in its extended position.

United States Patent [191 Lieder et al.

m1 3,805,489 [4-51 Apr. 23, 1974 AUTOMATIC BAG SHAPING AND BAG TOPFORMING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Gaylerd M. Lieder; Robert E.

Odom, both of Minneapolis, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Bemis Company Inc., Minneapolis,

Minn.

22 Filed: Apr. 17, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 244,382

[52] US. Cl. 53/378, 53/371, 198/165,

198/166 [51] Int. Cl B651) 7/06, B65g 15/14 [58] Field of Search 53/372,371, 139, 188,

53/124 CC, 378, 379, 187, 186, 190, 124 A, 124 TS, 249, 251; 93/32, 77R, 77 CL; 198/165, 166

Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant ExaminerHorace M. CulverAgent, or

Attorney, FirmDugger, Johnson &

Westman [57] ABSTRACT An automatic bag shaping and bag top formingmachine for receiving a filled bag and having horizontally elongatedbottom and side endless conveyors with one side conveyor and bottomconveyor extending a substantial distance rearwardly of the other sideconveyor, a side conveyor member mounted adjacent the shorter sideconveyor for movement between an extended position extendingsubstantially the same distance rearwardly as the longer side conveyorand a retracted position a substantial distance forwardly of theextended position, a bag top forming assembly mounted for vertical andhorizontal movement to shape the bag top to form gussets as the bag isbeing conveyed by the conveyors, a bag top holding assembly for,retaining the bag top in a shaped condition as the bag top formingassembly is moved vertically upwardly from the bag top and the bag isbeing conveyed by the above conveyors to conveyors for the bag top thatretains the bag top in a shaped condition as the bag is moved adjacentthe sewing machine, and machines for picking up an empty bag and movingthe bag above the bottom conveyor when the conveyor member is in itsretracted position and filling and depositing the picked up bag on thebottom conveyor when the side conveyor member is in its extendedposition.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BAG MAGAZINE, BAG

OPENlNG AND BAG FILLING MACHINES 1. AUTOMATIC BAG SHAPING AND BAG TOPFORMING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A bag shaping and bag topforming machine having conveyor members for conveying a filled bag andshaping the top of the filled bag for a sewing or taping operation asthe bag is being conveyed.

In the prior art it is old to provide machines for forming and shapingbags tops preparatory to sewing, for example, see U. S. Pat. No.3,167,897 to Hopkins et al. However, with such prior art machines, attimes the bags when automatically filled and deposited on the conveyorthereof are overly round, or inclined rearwardly, or bulged so that aproper bag top closure is not formed, or the filled bag falls rearwardlyso that its top no longer extends upwardly. In order to overcomeproblems of the above nature, as well as others, this invention has beenmade.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide for usage withmachinery for automatically picking up an empty bag, fill the bag anddrop the filled bag, a bag top forming and shaping machine that includesnew and novel apparatus for aiding in shaping a bag as it is filled, andretaining the filled bag in an upright condition as the filled bag isdropped and initially conveyed in a forward direction. In furtherance ofthe above object, it is another object of this invention to provide newand novel apparatus that provides a structurally free space for swingingan empty bag to agenerally vertical position and thereafter at leastpartially enclosing part of the side and rear portions of the bag as itis filled and dropped preparatory to being conveyed to a bag top shapingoperation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary verticalelevational view of the apparatus of this invention with portions brokenaway, a portion of said view being generally taken along the line and inthe direction of the arrows 11 of FIG. 3, and a portion of the viewshowing the extensible conveyor assembly being generally taken along theline and in the direction of the arrows lA-lA of FIG. 3; a part of thebag opening and filling apparatus with which this invention is usedbeing partially diagrammatically illustrated;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical elevational view generallytaken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 2- -2 of FIG. 3of the extensible conveyor assembly with an intermediate part thereofbroken away;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the conveyor assemblies of this invention withthe extensible conveyor assembly shown in a retracted condition in solidlines and part. thereof shown in an extended condition in dotted lines;and diagrammatically indicates in block form the magazine, bag openingand bag filling machines with which the apparatus of this invention isutilized;

FIG. 4 shows a fragmentary transverse elevational view of the bag topshaping assembly, and one of the bag top holding assemblies in a bag topholding position in solid lines, and bag top holding bars in their datumposition in dotted lines, said view being generally taken along the lineand in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the bag top shaping fingers in aposition that the bag top has been shaped to provide a gussetted closurepreparatory to a bag top sewing or taping operation; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic showing of the hopper spout assembly (turned 90relative its actual position) of the bag filling machine, and the bottomconveyor assem bly, various hydraulic piston cylinder combinations andpart of the control circuitry of the apparatus of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus of this invention,generally designated 10, includes a frame generally designated 11.Mounted on the frame 11 to extend longitudinally, including asubstantial distance longitudinally rearwardly of the frame is aV-trough conveyor assembly 12. Mounted by the frame to be in part inoverhanging relationship to the V-trough conveyor assembly is the firstlongitudinally elongated side conveyor assembly, generally designated14. The conveyor assembly 14 includes a pair of spaced horizontal plates15 that at their one ends mount a drive shaft 16a on which drive rolls16 are mounted; at their opposite ends mount idler rolls l7; andintermediate the rolls 16, 17, mount back up and tensioning rolls 18.Endless conveyor belts 19 are extended around the rolls 16, 17, 18 tohave inner runs 19a in overhanging relationship to one side of theconveyor 12. The plates 15 are mounted in vertical spaced relationshipby brackets 20 which in turn are mounted on transverse rods 21 that aremounted by the adjacent longitudinal frame member 11a by mountingmembers 13. The conveyor assembly 14 extends a substantial distancerearwardly of the frame 1 l as will be more fully indicated hereinafter.

The apparatus 10 includes a second side conveyor assembly, that has aconveyor, generally designated 22 and an extension assembly generallydesignated 23. The conveyor 22 is of substantially the same constructionas conveyor assembly 14, other than it does not extend nearly the samedistance rearwardly of the frame as assembly 14. The inner runs 24a ofthe belts 24 of the conveyor 22 are in overhanging relationship to theV-trough conveyor assembly on the side opposite from the inner runs 19a.7 V The extension assembly 23 includes a longitudinally elongated guiderod 26 that is slidably mounted for horizontal longitudinal movement bya pair of spaced blocks 27 which in turn are mounted by the upper plate25 of the conveyor 22. Fixedly attached to the guide rod are a pair oflongitudinally spaced blocks 28 which in turn are fixedly secured to theupper leg 29a of the longitudinally elongated gate 29. The gate from atleast adjacent the rearward end portion thereof to the forward endportion thereof has a generally planar vertical surface facing theconveyor assembly 14, the gate being provided with a horizontallyextending cutout 30 that opens forwardly to have the upper and lowerinner runs 24a extend therethrough to be slightly more closely adjacentthe conveyor assembly 14 than the planar surface of the gate. Thus thegate is of generally U-shaped configuration and has upper and lower legs29a and a rearward web portion 29b.

A two-way acting, horizontal piston cylinder combination 33, 34 includesa cylinder 33 dependingly mounted by the lower plate 25 in a fixedposition by a pair of blocks 35. The piston cylinder combination 33, 34includes a piston rod 34 mounted for longitudinal movement parallel tothe inner runs 240, the rear end of the piston rod being fixedly securedto a block 36 that is in turn bolted to the lower leg 29a of the gate.Through the guide rod and piston cylinder combination the gate ismounted for horizontal movement between a position (solid line positionof FIGS. 2 and 3) that the web portion 29b is closely adjacent andextends rearwardly of the idler rolls 17 of the conveyor 22; and asecond position (dotted line position of FIGS. 2 and 3) that the webportion 29b extends rearwardly to a location generally transverselyopposite the idler rolls 17 of the conveyor assembly 14 and the legs 29astill extend forwardly of the idler rolls 17 of the conveyor 22. Abracket 38 is mounted by the plates 15 to extend substantiallytransversely across the entire width of the V- trough conveyor assemblyin overhanging relationship thereto at a location closely adjacent theidler rolls 17 of conveyor 14; the rearward edge portion of the web 29bbeing closely adjacent the bracket when the gate in its dotted extendedcondition of FIGS. 1 and 3.

Mounted on the frame 11 above the conveyor assemblies is a bag topshaping assembly, generally designated 45, that includes parallellinkages 46 having one ends pivotally connected at 43 to plates 42 thatare dependingly attached to the frame and opposite ends pivotallyconnected at 44 to brackets 47. The brackets 47 mount a generallyhorizontal, longitudinally elongated subframe 48, a piston cylindercombination 49 having a cylinder pivotally connected to the frame 11 anda piston rod pivotally connected to the subframe for vertically movingthe subframe. The subframe dependingly mounts a pair of longitudinallyelongated horizontal rods 50 for translatory longitudinal slidablemovement relative thereto. A two-way acting piston cylinder combination54 includes a cylinder fixedly mounted by the sub-frame and a piston rodconnected to a bracket 55 to move therewith, the bracket 55 in turnbeing mounted on the rods 50 for moving said rods horizontallytherewith. The bracket 55 mounts a cylinder of a two-way acting pistoncylinder combination 56 in a fixed position relative thereto, the pistonrod of said combination in turn being attached to a mounting member 57that dependingly mounts a pair of transversely spaced fingers 58 to movetherewith. The mounting member 57 is mounted on the rods 50 forhorizontal slidable movement relative thereto. A bracket 60 is mountedin a fixed position on the rods 50 and in turn mounts a two-way actinghorizontal piston cylinder combination 61 that includes a cylindermounted by the bracket 60 in a fixed position and a piston rod connectedto a mounting member 62 for moving the mounting member therewith. Themounting member 62 is slidable mounted on the rods 50 and in turndependingly mounts a pair of transversely spaced depending fingers 63 tomove therewith.

A first mounting member 65 is mounted on the rods 50 for movementtherewith, the mounting member 65 in turn mounting a finger 66 which hasa vertically depending portion. A second mounting member 65 dependinglymounts a finger 68 in a fixed position relative the rods 50. With thepiston cylinder combination 54 in its retracted condition of FIG. 1 andthe piston cylinder combinations 56, 61 in their extended conditions ofFIG. 1, the fingers 58, 63 are longitudinally intermediate andsubstantially spaced from the finger 66 and finger 68 with the finger 66being substantially rearwardly of the fingers 63 and the finger 68substantially for- Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, on each transverse sideof the frame 11 on transverse opposite sides of the side conveyors thereis mounted a plate 76 of the respective bag top holding assembly 75.Each bag top holding assembly includes a piston cylinder combination 77having the cylinder thereof pivotally connected to the adjacent plate 76by a pivot member 78 and a piston rod pivotally connected at 83 to abracket 80. Bracket 80 is pivotally connected at 79 to the adjacentplate.

A mounting member 81 has one end attached to the bracket 80 to movetherewith and an opposite end connected to a longitudinally elongatedholding bar 82. Members 77-81 mount and move the holding bar between thedotted line elevated position of FIG. 4 that is substantiallytransversely spaced from the path of travel of the top of a filled bagon the bottom conveyor and a lower transverse inward position to buttagainst one side of bag top portion of the bag while the fingers in thebag top shaping assembly are in the relative positions shown in FIG. 5.Longitudinally rearwardly of each bag top holding assembly 75 isprovided a second bag top holding assembly, generally designated 85, ofthe same construction as the bag top holding assemblies 75. The bars 82of assemblies 85 extend longitudinally forwardly of the side conveyorassemblies 14, 22.

The entry nips of a pair of endless conveyor belts 89 of a conveyorassembly 90 are located adjacent the rearward end portions of the bars82 of the assemblies 85 and vertically above the bottom conveyor forretaining the bag top in a shaped, closed condition and the bag uprightas the bag is conveyed forwardly on the bottom conveyor assembly. Theconveyor belts 89 extend up to the conventional bag top sewing machineand/or taping machine 91 for retaining the bag top in a proper conditionfor the sewing and/or taping operation by the bag top sewing and/ortaping machine 91 that may be mounted on frame 11 or on a separate frame11 (not shown). The bottom conveyor extends beneath the machine 91.

A motor 94 is mounted on the frame 11 and has a shaft extension 95 thatis drivingly connected to the belts 89 and to the sprockets 96a keyed onshafts 16a to drive the belts 89, 19a, 24a through drive mechanism,generally designated 96.

Since the bag magazine, bag opening and bag filling machine, designated98 may be of the construction described in co-pending application Ser.No. 30,681, filed Apr. 22, 1970 other than the conveyors thereof forcarrying the filled bag are not used, the machine 98 will not bedescribed; said pending application being incorporated herein byreference.

In using the apparatus of this invention, at the time the gate 29 is inits solid line retracted position of FIG. 1, an empty bag is removedfrom the bag magazine of machines 98 and swung upwardly to be clampedonto the hopper spout assembly 97 of the bag filling machine that inpart is indicated by reference No. 98 of FIG. 3 in the manner describedin said copending application. The bag in being swung up from the bagmagazine to be clamped on hopper 97 is moved through a pat-h of movementthat the bag in part crosses between the bracket 38 and the gate 23 at alower elevation than the top of the gate, the frame 98a of machines 98mounting the hopper spout assembly above the conveyor 12 rearwardly offrame 11. In a position clamped on the hopper spout 97 of the bagfilling machine, the bag depends to a lower elevation than the gate 29,but is vertically spaced from the belts of the V-trough conveyorassembly. As the bag is clamped onto the hopper spout assembly 97, aswitch 110 is actuated to operate valve 111 to apply fluid underpressure to the end of the cylinder 33 for moving its piston rod in adirection of arrow 102 toward bracket 38. Prior to the time the chargeis dumped into the bag clampedon the hopper spout assembly, the gate 29is in its extended position whereby the bag side walls extend downwardlyintermediate the inner runs 19a and the gate, and the rear edge portionof the bag is adjacent the bracket 38. Thus members 19a, 29 and 38 actto limit the bulging of thebag in horizontal directions therebetween.After the bag has been filled, the hopper spout mechanism automaticallyreleases the bag to drop it on the bottom conveyor, and at the same timeoperates switch 110 whereby valve 1 11 is operated to apply fluid underpressure to the end of the cylinder 33 for moving the piston rod 34 inthe direction of arrow 100 at substantially the same rate that the innerruns are moving. The filled bag dropped onto the bottom conveyor isthence conveyed in a forward direction (arrow 100) and the gate movestoward its retracted position preparatory to another empty bag beingswung up onto the hopper spout assembly.

As the filled bag moves forwardly, between inner runs 19a, 24a, itcontacts a switch member 104 for operating valve 106 for applying fluidunder pressure to the upper end of the cylinder 49 for moving thesubframe 48 in a downward direction and valve 107 for applying fluidunder pressure to the piston cylinder combination 54 for moving the rods50 in a forward direction at the same rate .ofspeed as the filled bag onthe conveyor assembly .12 is being conveyed. As assembly movesdownwardly, the fingers 63 and fingers 58 in their most closely adjacentpositions are moved downardly into the bag top and fingers 66, 68 aremoved downwardly exterior of the bag. When the assembly 45 is moved toits lowermostposition, it operates a switch (not shown) for applyingfluid under pressure to cylinders 56, 61 forretracting their piston rodsto move the fingers 5'8, 63 longitudinally away from one another at thesame rate of speed. In so moving, the opposite side wall portionsof thebag are moved into abutting relationship to fingers 66, 68 respectivelywhereby the side wallsof the bag are drawn taut and together to aposition generallyiindicated in FIG. 5 to form gussets in the end walls.Thereafter, as the bag and the rods move forwardly bracket operates aswitch (not shown) to operate valves (not shown) to first operate thecylindersof the assemblies 75 to move the bars 82 thereof to their solidpositions on opposite sides of the bag top just after the fingers havemoved to FIG. 5.position for retaining the bag top side-walls closelyadjacent one another in the formed condition; and as the bag is conveyedfurther forwardly to in part extend between the assemblies 85,the bars82 of assemblies 85 are moved together. As the bag moves forwardly ofthe assemblies 75, a switch (not shown) is engaged by the bag wherebythe valve for the cylinders of assemblies return its bars '82 to theirdatum dotted line positions of FIG. 4. After the bars 82 of assemblies75 have moved to their bag'top holding positions which permits the bagtop in the position of FIG. 5, being conveyed therebetween, the bracket55 operates switch 104 that operates valve 106 to apply fluid underpressure to cylinder 49 for elevating the subframe. Thereafter the.bracket 55 engages a switch 112 that operated valve 107 to retract thepiston rod of combination 54 and combinations 56, 61 to extend theirpiston rods. At this time, the bag top moves into the entry nip of thebelts 89 to be retained in a closed position as it is moved up to themachine 91 to have the sewing and/or taping operation performed bymachine 91; and the bars 82 of the assemblies are thenceretracted todatum positions.

We claim:

1. For use with a machine that removes an empty bag from abag magazine,opens and fills the bag and drops the filled bag; bag shaping and bagtop forming apparatus comprising a longitudinally elongated frame havinga front end and a rear end, conveyor means mounted on the frame forconveying a filled bag from the rear end to the front end, means mountedon the frame for forming and'shaping the bag top of 'a filled bag on theconveyor means preparatory to forming a bag top closure, said conveyormeans including a first side conveyor having an inner run and a secondside conveyor transversely spaced from the first conveyor and extendinga substantial distance rearwardly of the first conveyor, longitudinallyextensible means mounted on the frame adjacent the first conveyor formovement between a first position extending substantially as farrearwardly as the second conveyor and a second position substantiallyforwardly of the first position to cooperate with the secondv conveyorto shape the bag as it is being filled and convey the filled bagforwardly, the extensible means comprising a gate member having agenerally planar surface parallel to the direction of movement of a bagby the conveyors; said gate member having a cutout providing legs whichextend above and below the inner run to have the first conveyor extendthrough the cut out when the extensible means is in its second positionand the inner run extend more closely adjacent the second conveyor thanthe planar surface, and power means for moving the extensible means toits first position before the bag is being filled andmove it toward itssecond position after the bag is filled.

2. For use with apparatus that moves a bag onto a bag filling-machine,fills the bag and thereafter drops the filled bag, conveyor apparatuscomprising a longitudinal elongated frame having a rear end portionadjacent the bag-filling machine and a front end portion remotetherefrom, a longitudinally elongated bottom conveyor mounted on theframefor supportingly carrying a filled bag in forward direction andhaving a rear end portion extending beneath a portion of a bag fillingmachine-to receive the dropped bag, a first longitudinally elongatedendless side conveyor mounted on the frame and having an inner runextending above one side portion of the bottom conveyor, a secondlongitudinally elongated endless side conveyor mounted on the frame andhaving an inner run extending above the side portion of the bottomconveyor opposite the first conveyor, said second conveyor having a rearend portion extending rearwardly to a location transversely adjacent therear portion of the bottom conveyor and the first conveyor having a rearend portion sufficiently longitudinally forwardly of the second conveyorrear end portion to permit a bag being moved transversely over thebottom conveyor rear portion while extending to a lower elevation thanthe top of the first conveyor, a gate movable from a first positionextending rearwardly of the first conveyor in overhanging relationshipto the bottom conveyor to cooperate with the second conveyor to retainthe bag in an upright condition as the bag is dropped on the bottomconveyor rear portion and a second position permitting a bag being movedtransversely over the bottom conveyor rear portion while extending to alower elevation than the top of the first conveyor, and power meansmounted on the frame and connected to the gate for moving that gatebetween its positions; said power means comprising means fortranslatorily moving the gate between its positions, the second positionbeing substantially longitudinally forwardly of the first position, saidpower means comprising means for translatorily moving the gate betweenits positions, the second position being substantially longitudinallyforwardly of the first position, the gate having a generally planarsurface facing the second conveyor, and that the first conveyor has alongitudinal extending inner run transversely more closely adjacent thesecond conveyor than said planar surface, said gate having a cutoutproviding legs above and below the first conveyor when the gate is inits second position.

3. For use with apparatus that moves a bag onto a bag filling machine,fills the bag and thereafter drops the filled bag, conveyor apparatuscomprising a longitudinal elongated frame having a rear end portionadjacent the bag filling machine and a front end portion remotetherefrom, a longitudinally elongated bottom conveyor mounted on theframe for supportingly carrying a filled bag in a forward direction andhaving a rear end portion extending beneath a portion of a bag fillingmachine to receive the dropped bag, a first longitudinally elongatedendless side conveyor mounted on the frame and having an inner runextending above one side portion of the bottom conveyor, a secondlongitudinally elongated endless side conveyor mounted on the frame andhaving an inner run extending above the side portion of the bottomconveyor opposite the first conveyor, said second conveyor having a rearend portion extending rearwardly to a location transversely adjacent therear portion of the bottom conveyor and the first conveyor having a rearend portion sufficiently longitudinally forwardly of the second conveyorrear end portion to permit a bag being moved transversely over thebottom conveyor rear portion while extending to a lower elevation thanthe top of the first conveyor, said first conveyor being substantiallyshorter than the second conveyor, and bottom conveyor, a gate movablefrom a first position extending from adjacent the first conveyor to alocation substantially as far rearwardly as the second conveyor andextending rearwardly of the first conveyor in overhanging relationshipto the bottom conveyor to cooperate with the second conveyor to retainthe bag in an upright condition as the bag is dropped on the bottomconveyor rear portion and a second position substantially longitudinallyforwardly of the first position to permit a bag being moved transverselyover the bottom conveyor rear portion while extending to a lowerelevation than the tops of the first conveyor, said gate having agenerally planar surface facing the second conveyor, power means mountedon the frame and connected to the gate for translatorily moving the gatebetween its positions, and control means for operating the power meansto move the gate to its first position after a bag has been moved ontothe filling machine and prior to the filling of the bag, and to move thegate towards its second position when the bag is dropped from thefilling machine at substantially the same speed as the conveyors move abag thereon.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that the firstconveyor has a rear portion and that said gate means has a front portionthat extends forwardly of the first conveyor rear portion when the gatemeans is in its second position.

1. For use with a machine that removes an empty bag from a bag magazine,opens and fills the bag and drops the filled bag; bag shaping and bagtop forming apparatus comprising a longitudinally elongated frame havinga front end and a rear end, conveyor means mounted on the frame forconveying a filled bag from the rear end to the front end, means mountedon the frame for forming and shaping the bag top of a filled bag on theconveyor means preparatory to forming a bag top closure, said conveyormeans including a first side conveyor having an inner run and a secondside conveyor transversely spaced from the first conveyor and extendinga substantial distance rearwardly of the first conveyor, longitudinallyextensible means mounted on the frame adjacent the first conveyor formovement between a first position extending substantially as farrearwardly as the second conveyor and a second position substantiallyforwardly of the first position to cooperate with the second conveyor toshape the bag as it is being filled and convey the filled bag forwardly,the extensible means comprising a gate member having a generally planarsurface parallel to the direction of movement of a bag by the conveyors;said gate member having a cutout providing legs which extend above andbelow the inner run to have the first conveyor extend through the cutout when the extensible means is in its second position and the innerrun extend more closely adjacent the second conveyor than the planarsurface, and power means for moving the extensible means to its firstposition before the bag is being filled and move it toward its secondposition after the bag is filled.
 2. For use with apparatus that moves abag onto a bag filling machine, fills the bag and thereafter drops thefilled bag, conveyor apparatus comprising a longitudinal elongated framehaving a rear end portion adjacent the bag filling machine and a frontend portion remote therefrom, a longitudinally elongated bottom conveyormounted on the frame for supportingly carrying a filled bag in forwarddirection and having a rear end portion extending beneath a portion of abag filling machine to receive the dropped bag, a first longitudinallyelongated endless side conveyor mounted on the frame and having an innerrun extending above one side portion of the bottom conveyor, a secondlongitudinally elongated endless side conveyor mounted on the frame andhaving an inner run extending above the side portion of the bottomconveyor opposite the first conveyor, said second conveyor having a rearend portion extending rearwardly to a location transversely adjacent therear portion of the bottom conveyor and the first conveyor having a rearend portion sufficiently longitudinally forwardly of the second conveyorrear end portion to permit a bag being moved transversely over thebottom conveyor rear portion while extending to a lower elevation thanthe top of the first conveyor, a gate movable from a first positionextending rearwardly of the first conveyor in overhanging relationshipto the bottom conveyor to cooperate with the second conveyor to retainthe bag in an upright condition as the bag is dropped on the bottomconveyor rear portion and a second position permitting a bag being movedtransversely over the bottom conveyor rear portion while extending to alower elevation than the top of the first conveyor, and power meansmounted on the frame and connected to the gate for moving that gatebetween its positions; said power means comprising means fortranslatorily moving the gate between its positions, the second positionbeing substantially longitudinally forwardly of the first position, saidpower means comprising means for translatorily moving the gate betweenits positions, the second position being substantially longitudinallyforwardly of the first position, the gate having a generally planarsurface facing the second conveyor, and that the first conveyor has alongitudinal extending inner run transversely more closely adjacent thesecond conveyor than said planar surface, said gate having a cutoutproviding legs above and below the first conveyor when the gate is inits second position.
 3. For use with apparatus that moves a bag onto abag filling machine, fills the bag and thereafter drops the filled bag,conveyor apparatus comprising a longitudinal elongated frame having arear end portion adjacent the bag filling machine and a front endportion remote therefrom, a longitudinally elongated bottom conveyormounted on the frame for supportingly carrying a filled bag in a forwarddirection and having a rear end portion extending beneath a portion of abag filling machine to receive the dropped bag, a first longitudinallyelongated endless side conveyor mounted on the frame and having an innerrun extending above one side portion of the bottom conveyor, a secondlongitudinally elongated endless side conveyor mounted on the frame andhaving an inner run extending above the side portion of the bottomconveyor opposite the first conveyor, said second conveyor having a rearend portion extending rearwardly to a location transversely adjacent therear portion of the bottom conveyor and the first conveyor having a rearend portion sufficiently longitudinally forwardly of the second conveyorrear end portion to permit a bag being moved transversely over thebottom conveyor rear portion while extending to a lower elevation thanthe top of the first conveyor, said first conveyor being substantiallyshorter than the second conveyor, and bottom conveyor, a gate movablefrom a first position extending from adjacent the first conveyor to alocation substantially as far rearwardly as the second conveyor andextending rearwardly of the first conveyor in overhanging relationshipto the bottom conveyor to cooperate with the second conveyor to retainthe bag in an upright condition as the bag is dropped on the bottomconveyor rear portion and a second position substantially longitudinallyforwardly of the first position to permit a bag being moved transverselyover the bottom conveyor rear portion while extending to a lowerelevation than the tops of the first conveyor, said gate having agenerally planar surface facing the second conveyor, power means mountedon the frame and connected to the gate for translatorily moving the gatebetween its positions, and control means for operating the power meansto move the gate to its first position after a bag has been moved ontothe filling machine and prior to the filling of the bag, and to move thegate towards its second position when the bag is dropped from thefilling machine at substantially the same speed as the conveyors move abag thereon.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in thatthe first conveyor has a rear portion and that said gate means has afront portion that extends forwardly of the first conveyor rear portionwhen the gate means is in its second position.